[Rowdy Rat]

Joe,

I'm sure that any available ratio could have been written in, but I doubt that it would have done any good without some sort of central office override. The Corvette power team chart shows a 3.36 rear as the only "performance" ratio available with the L-71/L-89/L-88 and M-40, with no "special" ratios available. For whatever reason, the engineers decided that the most aggressive rear axle ratio a person could get in a Corvette with an automatic and one of the the solid lifter engines was a 3.36. They even created a special broadcast code (AX) for this application even though a "big block" 3.36 rear already existed (although to my knowledge, there is no physical difference between the two). What I was never able to understand is why the higher numerical ratios were never offered. The COPO Camaros and Chevelles could get a 4.10 (maybe even a 4.56) as you stated. Plus, there was no doubt that the L-88/M-40 cars were built solely to make that combination legal for stock class drag racing, so why saddle the car with a rear gear totally unsuitable for its intended purpose.

For general information, the transmission used is nearly identical to the COPO Camaro/Chevelle/Nova THM400s although the Corvette version carried a "CY" broadcast code.

I've been fortunate to see quite a few of these automatic transmission L-71/L-89/L-88 Corvettes in person and with only one exception, the cars all had the 3.36 rear (the one car that did not was an L-89 with a 3.08). I've heard recently of an L-89/M-40 car with a 3.70 rear axle (supposedly with paperwork), but I have not seen any documentation to this point. If I ever get to see the car and the paperwork, I'll let you know what I discover.

Charley, that Chevelle, sounds like a great combination! It also sounds like you've had (and still have) some really outstanding cars!

Regards,

Stan